CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCAL ISOLATES FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

Komal Keswani*, Sourav Sen, Santosh Karade, Kyaw Zeyar Soe and R. M. Gupta

ABSTRACT

Background: Over past decade Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have transformed from innocuous microbe to offensive pathogen causing hospital acquired infection. This study was carried out to ascertain antimicrobial susceptibility profile of CoNS isolated from clinical specimens of patients attending a tertiary care teaching hospital. Method: Consecutive clinical samples were processed for conventional culture from Jan 2019 to Dec 2019. Identification of CoNS up to species level and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by VITEK 2 compact system. The gene implicated in resistance to cefoxitin (mec A) was identified by conventional PCR. Results: A total of 300 CoNS were isolated during study period of which S. epidermidis was predominant (43.3%). Methicillin resistance was seen in 86% of the isolates. A total of 64.7% of MR-CoNS(methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci) showed presence of mec A gene. Conclusion: The study indicate emergence of multi drug resistance in CoNS isolates. Multiple genotypic resistance targets apart from mec A gene needs to be analysed to detect resistance in CoNS.

Keywords: Methicillin resistant coagulase negative staphylococci, mecA gene.